Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter
Many of this year's top draft prospects were in action at the Senior Bowl, where every NFL team was on hand. With the Jets looking toward the Draft, which players stood out the most?
The big winners were two potential Day Two picks. UMass wide receiver Andy Isabella was named the game's most outstanding player and USC offensive tackle Chuma Edoga was named the overall player of the week in the annual practice awards and then followed that up with a solid performance in the game.
Isabella drew some criticism during the week as scouts noted that he has a tendency to catch the ball with his body, but that didn't slow down his performance in the game as he caught seven passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, adding a first down run on an end-around. Isabella, who claims to have run a hand-timed 4.26 in the 40-yard dash, displayed an ability to produce from the slot and get open in key situations as he converted two fourth downs and a third down.
Edoga got out in front of Isabella to throw a great block to spring him for a 19-yard touchdown on a receiver screen and also impressed in the running game. One report during the week suggested that some teams have concerns about Edoga's attitude, but he will have raised his stock during the week with his performance.
Edoga held up well in pass protection too but was unable to stop Jaylon Ferguson from registering a sack. The Louisiana Tech product set an all-time record by racking up 45 career sacks, but his sack against Edoga was more of a coverage sack as quarterback Daniel Jones couldn't find anyone on 3rd-and-goal. Ferguson, who added two more quarterback hits, could be a potential late first-rounder.
Speaking of record holders, Memphis running back Tony Pollard tied an NCAA record with seven career touchdowns on kickoff returns. However, the late addition to the North roster stood out among an underwhelming group of running backs with his performance on offense. Pollard's decisive running style saw him rush for 61 yards on eight carries, including a 21-yard score. The versatile Pollard, who can also play wide receiver, added two catches for 13 yards and could be a late-round sleeper.
Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow measured up with short arms and small hands during the week but impressed in the game with six catches for a game-high 76 yards. Renfrow, who will be a slot option at the NFL level, made a couple of tough catches in traffic and could be a bargain if he drops to the later rounds.
Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders from Western Illinois made some headlines during the week by showing off his back-flipping skills and then becoming a father. However, he's produced on the field too and he burst into the backfield to haul Will Grier down for an impressive sack. Saunders ended up with three tackles.
Iowa defensive end Anthony Nelson also had a solid performance on the line. He had a sack, three pressures and a forced fumble. He was also in on a couple of run stops. Both Saunders and Nelson, who entered the draft despite having a year of eligibility remaining, were viewed as mid-round picks before this week but have likely helped their cause.
In the secondary, Delaware safety Nasir Adderley is one of the top small-school prospects in the draft and he did his reputation no harm by racking up five tackles and a fourth quarter interception. Adderley, whose grandfather is cousins with Hall of Famer Herb Adderley, believes he can run a 4.3 at the scouting combine, which could vault him into first-round contention.
At cornerback, another USC player, Iman Marshall, was a standout. Although he only had one tackle, Marshall's man was targeted seven times and he only gave up one catch for one yard. Marshall has good size but will need to prove his speed during the offseason, otherwise teams will view him as a zone corner or possible safety conversion. He has a chance to be a Day Two pick.
While it's unlikely any of the players on display will be considerations for the Jets with the third overall pick, some of them will be on their radar for later picks or possibly even considerations later in the first round if they trade down.